How to Figure out What Work-at-Home Job Is Right for You

When I started looking for a work-at-home job – I didn’t care what the job entailed. I just knew that I needed to make some money and I wanted to be at home with my daughter.

I searched online, checked out the wants ads, and even asked past employers if there was ANYTHING that I could do for them. I was willing to do data entry, make phone calls, complete research, run errands, anything … I was desperate! Unfortunately, desperation is often what leads to scams. And I came across a ton of them.

When you’re looking for a work-at-home job you need to be clear in your intent; meaning you need to slow down and take inventory before you begin your search.

What are your passions, skills, and prior experience?

Do you need health insurance?

Do you need a flexible schedule or can you commit to regular day-time hours?

Do you want to start a business?

When you cast your net too wide, you fail to find the right work-at-home job for you, because your search is not targeted.

To assist you on your work-at-home journey, here are some common work-at-home scenarios, companies, jobs, and ideas that will fast-track your search.

1. I Need a Work-at-Home Gig with Zero Startup Fees

You hear this all the time — you should never have to pay for a work-at-home job. And for the most part, this is true, however, many companies that hire remote workers, do require potential employees to pay for things like criminal background checks, drug screens, credit checks, and training manuals.

Luckily, there are a lot of companies that don’t charge a penny! Here are some to get you started.

Need more suggestions? Real Ways to Earn has a big list of work at home jobs that don’t charge a fee.

One additional note on fees. Most companies do require you to have your own laptop, high-speed internet connection, and headset. Check out this article for more info on what equipment you need to work from home.

Now … what if you want to start your own business, but you don’t have any funds to invest? No problem. We have a couple of articles that talk about FREE home-based business opportunities:

2. I Need to Have a FLEXIBLE Work Schedule

24/7 Virtual Assistant – Hires Virtual Assistants to complete tasks for clients around the globe. They hire both full-time and part-time Assistants to work around the clock.

Apple – Hires At Home Advisors for daytime shifts, mid-day shifts, and graveyard shifts. Must have the ability to work some weekends and holidays, but there is the possibility to flex up or down depending upon business needs.

Contract World – Hires Remote Contract Agents in the US and Canada. You can work as many or as few hours as you’d like, as long as you satisfy your client’s needs.

DVMelite – Hires Client Advocates, Sales Reps, Marketing Managers, and Client Service Champions. Must be able to work 4 hours a day, Monday – Friday, but your work schedule is flexible.

FancyHands – Hires Assistants for appointment setting, internet research, and data entry. Assistants are paid per task and can work around the clock.

iSoftStone – Hires Web Evaluators and Crowd Workers in the US, Canada, and Australia. You can choose to work 10 – 25 hours per week.

Just Answer – Hires Experts to share their knowledge online. With this opportunity you can work anytime; however, it’s more of a side gig than a part-time or full-time job.

Liveops – Hires Agents for sales calls, healthcare calls, insurance sales and claims, as well as general customer service. You can work as many or as few hours as you like. You can even schedule your time in blocks of 30-minute increments.

VoiceLog – Hires Live Operators for 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-hour shifts. Must be able to work between 2 pm CST to 11 pm CST Monday-Friday and every other weekend.

Transcription work is another flexible job you can do from home. With this work, you’re sent audio files that need to be transcribed into written documents. As long as you can meet your client’s deadline, you’re able to do this work any day of the week, anytime. This article lists hiring companies and everything else you need to know about transcription work.

3. Help Me Earn Extra Money From Home

When I was searching for a work-at-home job, I did many of these side gigs to bring in money. While most people use these methods to bring in extra cash, some people make full-time careers out of working side gigs. In fact, Lori Cheek launched her mobile dating app just by completing side jobs.

4. I Want to Call the Shots and Be My Own Boss

I’ve been working for myself for the past seven years, and I absolutely love it! I’m able to increase or decrease my hours as needed. I’m doing work that I love, and there’s no limit to how much I can make … pretty awesome! If you’d like to be your own boss here are some great work at home businesses to consider.

5. I Don’t Want to Take Phone Calls!

One of the most prevalent work at home jobs is that of the Customer Service Agent. While this is a good gig for many individuals, a lot of people just don’t want to be on the phone — which I totally understand. If you’re looking for a non-phone job here are some gigs to consider.

Social Media Managers help companies and businesses market themselves through the various social media channels. An in-depth knowledge of the different platforms and having your own active accounts is an excellent way to get started.

If you have an active teaching certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree you may be eligible to teach online. Everything from kindergarten to grade 12 is available with lots of variety in subject matter and topics.

If you can speak more than one language and you’re accurate, you may be eligible to complete translation work. Many companies will require you to take fluency test, but once you pass, you’re ready to go.

6. I Need Health Insurance

If you’re not covered under your significant other’s health plan, you will need to find a company that offers insurance. If you’re able to work full-time hours, you’ll have a relatively easy time finding companies that offer health benefits. In fact, I have a huge list of legit companies that offer employee benefits.

If you’re only able to work part-time hours — it becomes more of a challenge. However, I did find a few companies that offer benefits for part-time employees.

This page includes affiliate links. Please be aware we only promote advertising from companies that we feel we can legitimately recommend to our readers. Please see our disclosure policy for further information.

Comments

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Hi Holly, i am from Asian country. Is there any job that accepting international? I am a stay at home mom and always on the look out for some good paying job. At this moment, i am doing data entry, promoting sales, filing and scanning emails for my friend. Please introduce that don’t require a start-up fees, thanks

I currently work for a family practice full time, doing admin work…filing, scanning, faxing, mailing ect… .they refuse to pay over time, I’m a single mother trying to buy a house and would like to work from home on the weekends. I was thinking of doing data entry or something. Prefer not to be on the phone…any suggestions?

I was laid off a year ago medical reasons. I am desperate to find a work from home job. I was in the dental field for 15 years and wrote in great detail what was done for each patient during each visit. I am very proficient in inputting data and I will go to great lengths to make sure the job is done right. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you for your time!

I am currently an office manager, but also have 20 years retail experience. I also went to school for interior design. My issue is I have a MacBook and most wah jobs require a pc. I am great with Color but my area in over saturated with designers

Hello I am looking for a stay at home job, I am 56 and have medical conditions that I may have to quit my full time job.I was looking for a on line or web based company that sells plus size women’s clothing made in US. Any ideas?

I am excellent at editing others’ writing. I have a keen eye for detail. I am also very efficient at typing step by step instrunctions. I want to do customer service with typing only as I often lose my voice, but, as I am a full-time student, I am looking for something that gives me autonomy with my hours. Some weeks I need an extra day to study and wish I had the power to decide to do 4×10 or 5×8 on a whim.

Hi I’m a male just turning 50. I’ve got some health issues and trying to find a work from home business or job. Something that pays decent and no startup costs or fees. I’m st rock bottom right now with no money coming. My skills are cooking and truck driving. But a fast learner have thought about doing accounting. Just need money to pay bills and provide for my family as life hasn’t been easy.

Hi holly. I’ve been with the fast food industry for 9 years as a shift manger. I know my way around customers service and cashier. And I’m looking for a job to be a stay at home mom with my five kids. Is there anything out there for me.

I have two kids who love to make noise and I have no car but I need extra money for bills l did surveys at a telemarketing company for two years owned my own cleaning service for six years mostly construction clean up and I need a flexible at home job that works for my lifestyle

Sitel was a waste of my time. Signed up, did 3 tests, and even got an interview only to be told that they aren’t looking for anyone right now. Of couse she told me she will keep my name on there in case they need someone with my skill set. Pretty much meant I didn’t qualify. Probably because I don’t have a high school diploma even though I do have experience in customer service. Oh well….the search continues!

Thank s Holly, I’ll check it out. I’m pretty bummed out right now because Sitel made it out like I had the job only to be told later I didn’t. Not feeling very positive at the moment but I’ll continue to try. I’ve been looking for 6 months now. I’m starting to get a complex lol.

I am looking for a flexible job that is completely at home and pays well without using the phone. I am trying to get pregnant and want to be prepared when I do have a baby. I currently am doing data entry for my job, but I would like to actually get up out of a chair and do things for a change (I’m very crafty). I don’t mind having some computer time though. My husband is doing full time school right now. If needed, he can jump back into the workforce, but we’d like for him to get through school as quickly as possible. I need help, everything that seems to pay well usually involves all the time devoted on a computer, using a phone, or I’m not qualified. And everything I think I would enjoy doing either doesn’t pay enough or comes with too many risks to count on it. What can I do?

Hi Jessica, If you want to be out and about, not at a computer, perhaps you should look at on-demand opportunities like driving for Uber, walking dogs with Wag Walking, or providing child care services for care.com. There are also other possibilities, like being a photographer, starting an Etsy store, or joining a direct sales company — but in these positions, you’re a business owner, not an employee. Most work-at-home jobs require a lot of computer time or phone work. Give this article a look; it can help you narrow down and refine your search: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/finding-your-niche/

Hi Holly, my name is Debra and I am a retired RN. I worked 30+years. I live in a rural area and do not want to leave home for work, though I need something to do. I have an interest in nutrition and natural healing. Had breast CA five yrs ago. I have read your article about how to decide on the type of job that would suit you. I don’t need benefits, don’t want to pay a fee. I have basic computer skills and can type. My hobbies are gardening, reading, music, and have a dog, love animals. What are your suggistions for me? DEBRA PS that is a “L” in my address

Hi! You have some great resources. I have been trying to find a work from home job with flexible daytime hours. I cannot use automatic dialers. I love being on the phone and would love to be paid to do business presentations for opportunity calls or something. I also tried a business years ago called Contact Us and really liked it, but think it may have been spammy so I quit. I would prefer a job where background noise would not be a big problem. I have tried direct sales and have found it is just not for me. I have to have a work at home job. Any suggestions? I love people and am very patient, but not techy.

I live in the Philippines and I’m looking for a job online. I’ve been struggling with onlinejobs.ph and upwork. I used to work as a Call Center Agent (BPO) for more than 4 years. I’m just a High School Graduate though. I’m staying home right now because no one will look after my kid if I work outside. I wanted either Chat/Email Support, Customer Service, Transcription. Can you suggest anything?

I am good at online chatting but I suck at speaking on the phone with out having a panic attack. Are there any text chat jobs that are text exclusive, offer benefits such as health insurance and have a flexible schedule? Even better if it requires knowledge of various nerdy topics such as anime since that is where most of my knowledge lies.

Hi Holly! Just discovered your site; you have some very helpful info!!! I am a newlywed, relocated three hours from where I grew up. I am good with people, a bit crafty, enjoy grammar, and just really need flexible hours with no start up fees if possible. I worked the past couple years as a weight loss consultant, but would like a bit of a change (however, I am open to whatever at this point). The hubbs works second shift and is off weekends, so that’s what we are shooting for! (He also loves woodworking, so we have discussed tag-teaming some projects..) Thanks for your time!

Hi Holly, I am looking for a work from home jobs so I just discover your site and this is very helpful. Can you assist me looking for a job that suits my interest? My background is Transaction Processing Analyst and QA Analyst in a Heath Industry and Recruitment Background Checks. Thanks.

If you’re not an RN, still check with insurance companies like Aeta, Humana, Cigna, United Health Group, etc. as they hire for a wide variety of remote positions. Also, check out FlexJobs. They have the best work-at-home job board I’ve seen, and all of their jobs are screened for legitimacy.

Great list. I am a Survey Taker working online full-time. I also sing in a band at least three to five times a year. I want to become a Freelance Writer from home. I am a great writer of poetry, essays and songwriting. Do you have any suggestions?

I also worked in Customer Service for ten years for different companies and Clerical work data entry, receptionist and office work. Can you suggest company’s hiring from home? I have not been successful finding data entry jobs that pay well from home.

Hi, I am in real need of some direction. I am a mother of a 3 month old and my fiancee would prefer that i stay home to raise him for some time yet money is tight and my unemployment is about to run out. I have several years of customer service experience, use to do B2B marketing, appointment setting and event recruitment . I have done sales jobs over the phone but i hate it. I was also an office manager for a time and I know Microsoft programs. I am at the point where I must earn money but its hard to find something legit that i would be happy doing. I have been looking for something flexible that I can do in between baby fits, diaper changes, bath time and reading time. Can someone please direct me in a good direction.

Hi holly I would like to find a real stay at home jobs. I was injured at work and it doesn’t look like I can return. I also have an 8yr old and a 4 month old. I need to find something. I can do basic computer work. Please help me find something real.

I love the list, I envy you, your doing exactly what I have dreamed of doing for several years now but despite my having a certification as a Virtual Assistant I have struggled with knowing exactly what I want to do. I recently graduated with my AAS degree majoring in Administrative Assistant. I actually minored in Virtual Assistant. I also am very interested in either starting my own blog or blog for a company. Internet Researcher sounds interesting but I havent been able to find something in this area either. What do you think about starting a website that focuses on a city or certain area that features everything there is to know about Phoenix, AZ that shows attractions, maps of the city, etc. you know for someone researching the city because they are possibly moving there or visiting there and want to know what types of things there are to do in the Winter or Summer or they want to know the minimum wage or the cost of living in the city. Is this something that I can profit from or has it been done a million times already? If it could be successful how would I take my first steps to create such a site?